How to Improve Your Career with Open Skills
There’s an ever-growing demand in the work place for people with good “open skills” – those are the skills that are transferable from one position to the next, regardless of the particular job title. Open skills can range from the basics, like communication and basic problem-solving, to a more specific and specialized skillset, such as programming or network engineering.
What separates open skills from normal job functions like data entry or billing is that open skills are universally applicable and can be used in any line of work. This means that anyone who develops in-depth open skills can quickly become more valuable to almost any employer.
Here are five ways to improve your career with open skills:
1. Understand the Basics
The first step to becoming a more effective open-skills worker is to become familiar with the basics. Take the time to educate yourself on the fundamentals of communication and problem-solving, including ways to solve conflicts, how to communicate effectively, and how to set deadlines.
Not only will this help you develop the necessary skills for almost any job, but it will also make your job search easier, since many employers are looking for people with these basic skills.
2. Develop Specialized Skills
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to focus on developing specialized skills. This could be programming, marketing, or whatever else you’re interested in learning. Take the time to attend seminars and workshops or classes, to gain in-depth knowledge in your chosen field.
The goal is to expand your skill set and give yourself the capacity to take on a wide range of projects or responsibilities. This will help you demonstrate to employers that you’re a reliable and valuable asset.
3. Take on Projects
Take on projects outside of your routine job duties. This is an excellent way to demonstrate your open skills, and employers will be impressed to see that you’re taking the initiative to develop your skills and augment your career.
Projects can be anything from joining an organization or club to participating in a hackathon. The key is to push yourself and take on something that’s new and challenging.
4. Network
Networking is an important way to develop open skills and stay on top of trends. Connect with people in your field, read up on industry news, and attend events and seminars.
This will help you develop relationships with like-minded people, stay up to date on industry trends, and possibly even find potential jobs.
5. Think Beyond Your Career
Open skills are all about being able to think beyond just your job and job title. To truly capitalize on open skills, think of ways to broaden your horizons and develop a more rounded skill set.
Find ways to apply your skills outside of work, such as by volunteering your time or working with a nonprofit organization. This will help you develop additional open skills that can be applicable to almost any job.
Developing open skills is a great way to add value to yourself and to employers, and can lead to many exciting opportunities. Take the time to invest in yourself and focus on developing open skills, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling career.